Goodwood Museum and Gardens

Photo courtesy Vivian Young

1600 Miccosukee Road
Tallahassee, FL 32308

Contact:
Phone (850) 877-4202

Hours of Operation:
Gardens open Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed Weekends
Main House is currently closed for restoration. Expected opening date - Spring 2000

Tours:
By appointment only.

Admission:
A fee will be charged after mid-Spring 2000

Significant Dates:

1840s	Bryan Croom began construction on the Big House at Goodwood.
1911	Mrs. Fanny Tiers bought Goodwood, making some alterations to the house.
1991	The Margaret E. Wilson Foundation began active restoration.

Description:

Goodwood is a special place in Leon County. Once a major antebellum cotton plantation, throughout much of its history, it has served as a major social and political center for Florida. It was built as the home of one of Florida's wealthiest citizens, Bryan Croom. After a succession of owners it became the Florida residence of wealthy socialite Fanny Tiers early this century. Florida State Senator William C. Hodges purchased Goodwood in 1925; he often invited political leaders to share in his hospitality. A foundation established in memory of his wife, Margaret E. Wilson, is overseeing the restoration of the house and gardens. Visitors can tour the gardens which contain many vintage and rare plants. Now undergoing restoration, the house will open for tours in a few years.

Facts and Figures:

In gratitude for his service during the Revolutionary War, General Lafayette was presented with a 36 square mile grant of land in Leon County in 1825. As he never visited Tallahassee, he soon started selling off this land.

The Croom family of North Carolina began purchasing land in North Florida in the 1820s, including plantations in Marianna, Quincy and Tallahassee. Hardy Croom, a planter and recognized naturalist, discovered the rare Torreya tree. He began amassing the land for Goodwood, purchasing about 640 acres of the Lafayette Land Grant in 1833.

Croom and his immediate family were killed in the wreck of the steamship "Home" in 1837. His brother, Bryan Croom, inherited the property.

Bryan Croom completed construction of Goodwood in the 1840s. By 1845, Bryan owned 2,500 acres of land in Leon County alone, making him one of the wealthiest men in the territory.

The Smiths, family of Hardy Croom's wife, challenged Bryan's inheritance, and began legal proceedings which lasted through the 1840s and 1850s. The Smith family was awarded the estate in 1857. Bryan Croom took some of the furnishings to his new plantation in Montgomery, Alabama, which later served as the Little White House during the Civil War.

Arvah Hopkins purchased Goodwood in 1858. He was a prominent local merchant, and married the daughter of former Governor John Branch.

In 1886, Dr. William L. Arrowsmith purchased Goodwood. Legend says Arrowsmith was a soldier of fortune from Europe who had played an important role in the Italian Unification. Arrowsmith reportedly filled Goodwood with his Italian booty.

Mrs. Fanny Tiers, reportedly one of the wealthiest women in the world at the time, bought Goodwood in 1911. Although she spent most of her time in New Jersey, she made alterations to Goodwood, including changing the cupola and replacing the porch columns.

Florida State Senator William C. Hodges purchased Goodwood in 1925, making it a premier social and political center for Florida.

His widow, Margaret E. Wilson, married Thomas Hood. Hood survived Margaret, and in 1989 established the Margaret E. Wilson Foundation to oversee the restoration of Goodwood and its operation as a house museum.

The Margaret W. Wilson Foundation has begun restoration of the historic home, gardens and outbuildings, and plans on having the property fully open to the public in a few years.